1 Professor & HOD, Department of Pharmacology, Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2* Post Graduate, Department of Pharmacology, Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (Corresponding Author)
3 Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Sree Balaji Medical College & Hospital, Chrompet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Vels Medical College & Hospital, Manjankaranai, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Inflammation represents a major contributing factor to many chronic diseases. However, the long-term toxicity of anti-inflammatory drugs may impair their function. Nelumbo nucifera, a medicinal herb used extensively in indigenous medicine by various cultures, represents a rich source of various bioactive compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties. The aim and objectives of this research were to determine the in vitro anti-inflammatory properties of leaf extract of Nelumbo nucifera by employing HRBC membrane stabilisation, egg albumin denaturation assay, and BSA denaturation assay.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Leaves of Nelumbo nucifera were taken, and cold maceration was done to obtain ethanolic extracts. In vitro studies of the ethanolic extract of Nelumbo nucifera leaves for anti-inflammatory activity were done by three methods: (1) HRBC membrane stabilisation, (2) heat-induced egg albumin denaturation, and (3) bovine serum albumin denaturation. The concentration of the sample was varied from 100 to 500 µg/mL, and standard diclofenac sodium was used for comparison.
RESULTS
The result showed that N. nucifera extract had a significant concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory effect on the three types of assays. At the highest concentration (500 µg/mL), the percentage protection offered by diclofenac was 65.3% in the HRBC membrane stabilisation method, and the lotus extract offered 55.6% protection. Diclofenac sodium and N. nucifera extract offered significant dose-dependent inhibition of protein denaturation. At a concentration of 500 µg/mL, diclofenac inhibited protein denaturation by 84.6%, and the lotus extract inhibited protein denaturation by 76.9%. The result showed that at 500 µg/mL, the albumin denaturation inhibition was maximised by diclofenac (87.5%), and the lotus extract exhibited a promising result of 75.0% inhibition. All the above results had statistical significance (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
The ethanolic extract of Nelumbo nucifera exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity in vitro by means of membrane stabilisation and inhibition of albumin and protein denaturation. The results suggest its potential use as a natural compound, replacing synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs, and justify further studies in vivo and in clinical experiments.
Keywords: Nelumbo nucifera, Anti-inflammatory, HRBC, Albumin denaturation, protein denaturation, Medicinal plant, Diclofenac, In vitro assays
How to cite this article: Elizabeth AA, Thiyagarajan A, Brigida S, Ram SG. Evaluation of In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Nelumbo nucifera. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4): 99-105. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4.12
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None